title: An evaluation of two systems of in-patient care in a general hospital psychiatric unit. II: Measures of staff and patient performance.
abstract: This study reports on a comparison between a single ward and a two-ward system of acute in-patient care in a general hospital psychiatric unit. It looked at job satisfaction, levels of stress, absenteeism/sickness and work proficiency amongst the staff and also at patients' level of disturbed behaviour, length of stay and re-admission rates. It was found that a continuous-care ward was associated with a lower level of behavioural disturbance and was preferred by the majority of staff, with some increase in job satisfaction and a decrease in stress. The continuous-care ward was also associated with shorter admissions. However, those who progressed through a two-ward system were less likely to be re-admitted within 3 months. The implications of these results are discussed.
authors.affiliation: Department of Clinical Psychology, St Andrew's Hospital, Northampton, England.
authors.forename: C G
authors.initials: CG
authors.lastname: Long
authors.forename: C C
authors.initials: CC
authors.lastname: Blackwell
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Midgley
mesh_terms: D000041:Absenteeism; D001509:Bed Occupancy / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D002983:Clinical Competence; D003266:Continuity of Patient Care; D006304:Health Status; D006757:Hospital Units / Q000458:organization & administration*; D006801:Humans; D007588:Job Satisfaction; D007902:Length of Stay; D009741:Nursing Staff, Hospital / Q000523:psychology* / Q000592:standards; D010359:Patient Readmission / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D011568:Psychiatric Nursing / Q000458:organization & administration* / Q000592:standards; D011787:Quality of Health Care; D013315:Stress, Psychological / Q000453:epidemiology